Top Attractions in Muskoka Canada

Discover Muskoka, Ontario, Canada

Muskoka is a family experience for about 70 years now. There was a time when it was really great in July, August and September when most folks go back to the city and left what was then nearly a wilderness to the loggers and a few farmers. What a difference half a century has made.

From backwoods summer sanctuaries for the well-off, Muskoka is now a four-season dynamo for families to break out of the cities and explore a piece of Canadian heritage.

It is just a two-hour drive from Toronto, and there are so many small towns to visit, each one, an attraction by itself.

Muskoka | Source

Things to Do in Muskoka

There are so many things to do in Muskoka and to enjoy many of these, own or rent a cottage for a week in the summer. Your family will have so much fun outdoors that it is all worth it.

Fall is special in Muskoka. In its approach, the colours of the trees change into neon orange, yellows, reds with each day bringing a new display. With the glorious smell of autumn, nothing can beat Muskoka at this time of year.

Here are some of the things you can enjoy in Muskoka:

Drive around Muskoka and explore some of its attractions

Take a tour of the lakes in the old steamboats

Take the Artists Tour in the Spring and Fall

Hike the trails of Muskoka

Enjoy watersports

Enjoy a Day at the Farmer's Markets or Fall Fairs

Experience the quiet and the beauty of mornings and evenings

Learn something new about something old

Fall in Muskoka

Fall in Muskoka | Source

Drive Around Muskoka and Discover its Attractions

Nothing can beat Nature's display in Muskoka. The forests and shimmering lakes dot the area and as you drive through, you will discover many villages each one unique with its own special attraction. You can do trips to Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Parry Sound and Huntsville or go to Port Carling, Port Sandfield or Rosseau.

In the Fall, there are stretches of road where the maples and oaks and sumacs show off colours that change from yellow to orange to red and nothing like Nature can mix this in complete harmony.

Artist at Work in Muskoka

Artisan at Work in Muskoka | Source

Go on the Spring and Fall Artists Tour

You can visit the artists in their places of work, engage with them and their art. Brochures on this are all over Muskoka and it has a map to guide you on your trip. You can choose to visit all or just what you like. We visit mostly what interests us but when some artists are on the same route, we try to have a peek.

Every year, we enjoy visiting the woodturning artists in the area as that is one that captivates our imagination and it is so close to Muskoka life with all the trees and woods around.

What is even better is that this tour is an annual activity and brochures are produced early so you can plan ahead of time.

Trails of Muskoka | Source

Hike the Trails of Muskoka

Nothing is more peaceful than the trails of Muskoka. It is also very colourful not just in the Fall and the feel of the leaves at your feet make you feel very much at one with Nature.

Fall is the best time to do long hikes in Muskoka as there are no bugs to bother you as you walk and know more about the trees and other living things in the woods. So, do a meditative walk and feel Nature sharing its energy with you.

Kayaking in Muskoka | Source

Enjoy Water Sports

Summer, of course, is family magic. It allows you to enjoy many water sports from kayaking, swimming, water skiing, canoeing, boating and sailing.

All the water sports and hiking your body can tolerate. And speaking of hikers and campers, Algonquin Park while perhaps a little north of Muskoka is still one of the greatest displays of undisturbed forest and rivers and lakes and wildlife that the world has to offer.

If you haven't yet tried Hydro Bike and Kayak Polo, time to do so. Kayak Polo is an international team game that require paddling and ball handling skills

Enjoy a Day at the Farmers' Market or Fall Fair

Almost every village in Muskoka, in the summer or starting in late spring, has its own day for a farmers' market so you can visit one each day of the week if this is your fancy.

There are so many fairs in Muskoka in the Fall. Some of these have a history of over a thousand years like the annual fall fair in Bracebridge. Don't miss going through the town itself and enjoy the charm small-town Ontario.

Farmers Market in Rosseau in Muskoka | Source

Bracebridge, Muskoka

Bracebridge | Source

Experience the Quiet and Beauty of Mornings and Evenings

Every season in Muskoka has its unique offer of early mornings and evenings. The sunrises and sunsets in the summer are so amazing that some visitors buy cottages here just because of these.

In autumn, when Muskoka seems to fall into a beautiful silence and stillness, the mornings are magnificent as the sun slowly peeks through the fog in the lake and the evenings are even much more beautiful. It is quiet in its still colours of pastel pink and blue, a beautiful time to enjoy a glass of wine or two on the deck.

Muskoka: A Four Season Destination

Muskoka is a four season wonderland. It’s not overcrowded and its small towns and villages all welcome visitors from hikers, to van campers to new cottagers who want to escape the city and live in a bit of Canadian history.

Early spring is alright but around June, the bugs come. Don't come at this time. Summer is the time to come and enjoy all the water sports. The water is not as cold so swimming is possible.

But nothing like Fall to make you love this place. It is still, quiet without bugs and not yet too cold so this is a great time to enjoy it.

Comments

No HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked. Comments are not for promoting your articles or other sites.

sending

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

30 hours agofrom Ontario, Canada

Fall is one of the most beautiful times in Muskoka because of the cavalcade of colours when trees change into reds and oranges and yellows.

Lora Hollings

2 days ago

Well, you certainly have convinced me, Mary, to visit Muskoka with your wonderful article with words that paint such a vivid picture in our minds of this quaint and enchanting place! Great photos too. Thanks for sharing your experiences there. I would love to visit soon, especially, in the Fall.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

2 days agofrom Ontario, Canada

I am sure you'll have some art works done from this visit if it ever happens.

Denise McGill

3 days agofrom Fresno CA

Mary,

What a beautiful place. I'd love to see it especially this time of year when the trees change to that inviting and exciting color pallet. I wish I was there.

Blessings,

Denise

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

8 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

Tim, it is just 2 hours north of Toronto so it is not difficult to get there. There are many resorts right on the lake.

Tim Truzy

8 months agofrom U.S.A.

Hi, Mary,

We are adding this place to our must-travel-to-locations. Canada as a whole is a beautiful country, and Muskoka sounds like a wonderful area to visit. I've visited Canada twice, going to Toronto, but now, I have another amazing destination to plan for.

Great article.

Thanks.

Tim

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

14 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

We stay here most months and just leave when winter starts. We saw a bit of the winter and it is beautiful, too.

Barbara Tremblay Cipak

14 months agofrom Toronto, Canada

It's beautiful for sure. Been there multiple times as it's not too far from where we live. Wonderful review. Truly a beautiful area no matter the season.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

15 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

I hope so. We are here right now and the weather is wonderful.

Barbara Badder

15 months agofrom USA

It sounds wonderful. Maybe someday I can enjoy the trip.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

16 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

We go each year on this tour, either in Spring or Fall, and enjoy it very much.

Margaret Schindel

16 months agofrom Massachusetts

This sounds like a wonderful travel destination! The landscape looks beautiful from your photos, and I'm sure my husband and I would enjoy the Artists Tour.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

17 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

Thank you, Gregory. I just changed the focus of the hub because it was not getting any traffic so I do appreciate your visit.

Gregory DeVictor

17 months agofrom Pittsburgh, PA

Mary, you’re quite the tour guide! The photos are magnificent, especially the ones depicting the Trails of Muskoka and Bracebridge. Spending some time at the Farmers’ Market sounds like a good idea too.

This gorgeous town looks like the ideal place to kick back and relax in the beauty of nature. I loved the photo of the downtown area and the trees. Wonderful imagery.

Nikki Khan

22 months agofrom London

Superb article Mary,I love nature in all its colours.Especially,fall attracts me more with its vibrant colours of rainbow.Amazing pics,,would love to visit this place in coming years.Thanks for sharing,,enjoyed a lot.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

22 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

I hope so. Fall is best as there are no bugs.

Ann Carr

22 months agofrom SW England

It looks wonderful, Mary! Superb photos! I love the colours of autumn; they are so rich and vibrant.

I've always wanted to visit Canada so if I get a chance this will be on my list!

Ann

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

22 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

Muskoka is just north of Toronto, about 2 hours drive.

Emese Fromm

22 months agofrom The Desert

What a beautiful place! I'd love to go sometime, it seems a great destination. Maybe next summer... we try to spend parts of our summers in Canada, to get away from the heat.

Thank you for a wonderful tour. Great pictures!

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

22 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

Bill, it is north of Toronto in Canada.

Bill Holland

22 months agofrom Olympia, WA

Oddly, I've never heard of it, and I kind of pride myself on my knowledge of geography. Sigh! So much for pride. :) Thanks for the journey and knowledge.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

22 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

Thanks Nell for the visit. Enjoy Marlow. Maybe, one day I can also visit there. Your article on the genetic dreams made me think. It made me view my dream last night from that perspective.

Nell Rose

22 months agofrom England

Oh how lovely! I would love to visit Muskoka, I have never heard of it before! I do live in a similar place, Marlow in bucks England, we have a beautiful river and the trees are lovely too at this time of year. But to see the artists at work and those trees too would be awesome!

Louise Powles

22 months agofrom Norfolk, England

Muskoka looks beautiful, especially in the autumn. The colours of the trees is amazing. There's so much to do there too. I hope some day I will be able to visit!

Linda Crampton

22 months agofrom British Columbia, Canada

This sounds like a lovely place to visit in the fall. The leaf colours are beautiful.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

22 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

They are even more beautiful in its actuality. Its beauty changes every day. These days, we have neon orange with the leaf free branches in the background.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

22 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

We are spoiled with Nature's beauty here.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

22 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

You can rent a small plane to fly you over the area. Affordable and fun.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

22 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

Come for the Artists Tour and you will find it very rewarding. Artists on appointments also open up their doors at any time of the year.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

22 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

No bugs in the Fall. You can truly enjoy Nature's beauty.

AUTHOR

Mary Norton

22 months agofrom Ontario, Canada

Do come next time further north. You will see the beauty of Canada's wilderness.

Dora Weithers

22 months agofrom The Caribbean

You make Muskoka seems so inviting. And no bugs? Thanks for sharing the experience in words and pictures.

Peggy Woods

22 months agofrom Houston, Texas

Muskoka, Canada looks like a beautiful place to visit. Thanks for describing what there is to do and see there. Love the fall colored leaves in the photos you chose to show.

Maria Elizabeth

22 months agofrom Cheshire/Greater Manchester, UK

How beautiful and the chance of enjoying the peace of being with nature.

Ellen Gregory

22 months agofrom Connecticut, USA

Interesting. I only remember going to places around Lake Ontario. Going to Niagara Falls on the US and Canadian side and doing a loop. We never went up further in Ontario.

srsddn

22 months agofrom Dehra Dun, India

The drone footage speaks great about the Fall colours. It must be mesmerising to experience changing colours and smell of autumn. Thanks for introducing such a beautiful place, Mary.

FlourishAnyway

22 months agofrom USA

This looks and sounds beautiful. I’d love to visit the local artisans.

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

This is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)

Google AdSense Host API

This service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)

This is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)

Facebook Login

You can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)

Maven

This supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)

We may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.

Conversion Tracking Pixels

We may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.

Statistics

Author Google Analytics

This is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)

Comscore

ComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)

Amazon Tracking Pixel

Some articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)